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Latest news from Promised Land

Posted by Peter Bowen | January 30, 2013

Global Inheritance, a non-profit that "develops creative, cause-based campaigns to educate individuals about issues that affect us globally," has stepped into the movie awards arena with their "The Bigger Picture" Film Awards. This new competition "highlights amazing films dealing with significant global issues." We are thrilled that Gus Van Sant's American drama PROMISED LAND is nominated for films in the "Energy" category. Even better the award is perfectly democratic, allowing visitors to vote for the winner. So go. Support the Global Inheritance. And most of all, vote for PROMISED LAND.

Posted by Peter Bowen | January 9, 2013

Julie Miller spoke with PROMISED LAND's director Gus Van Sant for the recent Vanity Fair. It was a wide ranging talk that covers Van Sant's ongoing relationship with Matt Damon (since the days of Good Will Hunting) and working with Frances McDormand. At one point, Van Sant explains how he shot John Krasinski doing a cover of Bruce Springsteen's "Dancing in the Dark." He says, "My secret is just to make it real. Have a real open mic. Don't do playback. It was live pretty much."

Posted by Peter Bowen | December 28, 2012

The Los Angeles-based ABC 7 reporter George Pennacchio focused on PROMISED LAND in a recent segment, bringing in both Matt Damon and John Krasinski to talk about the complexity of the issues raised in the film, as well as the experience of writing the script together. Damon highlights that he knew Krasinski was the perfect writing partner when he could suggest dialogue while giving Damon's daughter a horsey ride.

Posted by Peter Bowen | December 24, 2012

Posted by Peter Bowen | December 21, 2012

At BuzzSugar, Rosemarie DeWitt, who plays Alice in Gus Van Sant's PROMISED LAND, talked about the film and her character PopSugar correspondent Shannon Vestal. What it was like playing the local teacher who attracts the attention of both Matt Damon and John Krasinski in the film? Find out.

Posted by Peter Bowen | December 18, 2012

Gus Van Sant's powerful American drama PROMISED LAND (starring and co-written by Matt Damon and John Krasinski) will also feature songs from a great new American band The Milk Carton Kids. The Los Angeles-based duo of Kenneth Pattengale and Joey Ryan caught Van Sant's ear when they first performed in Portland with their sound that the New York Times has characterized as "a sweetly dazzling variation on close-harmony vocals, part Simon and Garfunkel and part Everly Brothers, with occasional acoustic prestidigitation." NPR named it "gorgeous contemporary folk." The duo, recently signed by the record label Anti- has three songs -- "The Ash & Clay," "Jewel of June" and "Snake Eyes" -- prominently featured in PROMISED LAND. For Kenneth Pattengale the song "Snake Eyes," which plays over an moving montage sequence, "draws heavily on the themes Gus is exploring, most directly on a sense of nostalgia, which has this wonderfully complex duality to it: at once we revel fondly in the past yet mourn with sadness that it's gone."

Posted by Peter Bowen | December 14, 2012

The Los Angeles Times' Mark Olsen, as part of The Envelope Screening Series, spoke with PROMISED LAND's director Gus Van Sant and stars and co-writers Matt Damon and John Krasinski about what makes their American drama both contemporary and classic. Some smart talk. See it here.

Posted by Peter Bowen | December 13, 2012

Matt Damon came on The Tonight Show this week to get the mandatory good-natured ribbing from Jay Leno, as well as a gracious plug -- "I really like this movie." In this clip, Leno and Damon talk about PROMISED LAND and why it's so important today, but not before Damon recounts a hilarious story about how he almost became a Mouseketeer.

Posted by Peter Bowen | December 6, 2012

Interview Magazine stopped by to cover the PROMISED LAND New York City premiere on December 4. They pulled together a great gallery of images, capturing the stars and filmmakers - Gus Van Sant, Matt Damon, John Krasinski, Rosemarie DeWitt - as well as the attending celebs -- Michael Pitt, , Michael Stuhlbarg, Patricia Clarkson. It's a fun notice with a great quote from Focus CEO James Schamus introducing the film: "When you get a screenplay and it says on the cover 'By Matt Damon and John Krasinski; to be directed by Gus Van Sant,' you clear your desk and you read it."

Posted by Peter Bowen | December 5, 2012

On Tuesday, December 4, 2004 the cast, crew and creative friends of Gus Van Sant's new film PROMISED LAND gathered uptown at the Loews AMC Loews Lincoln Square 13 for the premiere of this powerful new America drama. In addition to director Gus Van Sant, stars Matt Damon and John Krasinski (who also wrote the screenplay), and costars Frances McDormand, Scoot McNairy and Rosemarie DeWitt were on hand, as well as such notables as Stanley Tucci, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Carol Cane, Ron Livingston, Patricia Clarkson and more. See them all on our Facebook slideshow.

Posted by Peter Bowen | November 28, 2012

As part of the immensely popular New York Times "Times Talk" series, Hugo Lindgren, the editor of the New York Times magazine, sat down with PROMISED LAND director Gus Van Sant and its stars/writers,Matt Damon and John Krasinski, to talk about collaboration, community and filmmaking. He starts off first with Damon and Van Sant, then adds Krasinski on stage later when the talk turns to PROMISED LAND. Engrossing and entertaining. Watch it here.

Posted by Peter Bowen | November 21, 2012

IFP Gotham Awards, which take place this Monday, November 26, in New York City, will be honoring two figures closely associated with PROMISED LAND. Both Actor/writer Matt Damon and Jeff Skoll will be receiving Gotham Career Tributes. Damon not only stars in PROMISED LAND, but also wrote it with John Krasinski, while Skoll founded Participant Media, which is the film company producing PROMISED LAND. Congratulations to both. You can find out more about the honorees at the Filmmaker/IFP site.

Posted by Peter Bowen | November 21, 2012

In James Franco's new column for Playboy called "Francofile," the actor/director/writer/etc James Franco talks with director Gus Van Sant about his new film PROMISED LAND. Fun piece, especially since Franco appeared in Van Sant's MILK as Harvey Milk's longtime lover Scott Smith.

Posted by Peter Bowen | April 25, 2012

Cameras on Gus Van Sant's new drama PROMISED LAND started rolling this week, with Matt Damon and John Krasinski taking on roles both in front and behind the camera. The screenplay, written by John Krasinski and Matt Damon, based on a story by Dave Eggers, recounts the plight of Steve Butler (Matt Damon), an oil company exec, who, along with his sales partner Sue Thompson (Frances McDormand), attempts to secure drilling rights from citizens of economically depressed town. However, what should have been an easy corporate sell becomes complicated when a local schoolteacher (Hal Holbrook) and a grassroots community activist (John Krasinski) confront the corporate team. Mr. Krasinski commented, "Matt and I wanted to write a story about American identity. In all of today's political and economic rhetoric, I feel people often lose sight of the deeper, core principles of what defines us as a country. We knew we needed to find a contemporary issue that would serve as the backdrop to the story but, more importantly, allow us to fully explore this idea."

Also in the film are Rosemarie DeWitt, Scoot McNairy, and Titus Welliver. The movie's crew includes cinematographer Linus Sandgren, production designer Dan Clancy and costume designer Juliet Polcsa. Participant Media is co-financing the movie, for which Focus will hold worldwide rights and commence overseas sales at the Cannes International Film Festival in May. Filming begins this week in Pennsylvania for release next winter. Focus president of production Jeb Brody said, "Matt and John's script is rich in Frank Capra-esque qualities, blending humor and heart while exploring the power of community in this day and age. An actor's director like Gus will bring forth all the emotions in the story, which is a true passion project for everyone. We're proud to be making Promised Land with Participant as our creative and financial partner."